December 23, 2005
Dear Blue Jay Families:
The core constituencies that comprise our local Jesuit High School community -- current students and their parents, faculty and staff, and alumni and their parents -- have experienced life-altering changes brought about by Hurricane Katrina and the tragic flood of 2005, especially those who lost their homes and businesses while enduring diaspora to cities far away. The good news is that the vast majority has returned to rebuild what was destroyed. The same can be said of Jesuit High School. We are determined to remain an anchor in Mid-City, the New Orleans region, and the lives of our alumni, parents, students, and faculty. When I met last week with Blue Jay alumni in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, I proudly told them that Jesuit was the first flooded school in New Orleans to reopen on its home campus, an amazing accomplishment given that more than five feet of stagnant water inundated the entire first floors of our school and physical education facility for more than two weeks. Most of them told me they were not at all surprised, and even expected, this characteristic display of resilience towards disaster.
I thought you would want to know that when we began the 2005-06 year, our enrollment stood at 1,450 students. So far, only 42 have told us they will not be returning at all to Jesuit. We expect some 1,275 students to be here when the second semester begins January 23, 2006. This number will certainly increase by the time the new school year starts in August 2006. This is extremely gratifying as we begin the formidable task of own rebuilding.
I am asking you to help restore Jesuit High School. Help us keep the anchor in place by donating to our Hurricane Restoration Project. Jesuit must raise $5 million for expenses not covered by insurance, grants, and reimbursements. You will soon receive in the mail a brochure that provides more information about the scope of our rebuilding project and ways your generosity can impact Jesuit.
However, with the end of 2005 fast approaching, you may wish to consider the potentially significant tax benefits of your donation to Jesuit High School. Congress recently passed the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 which, among its many provisions designed to enhance and encourage giving opportunities, has temporarily suspended limits on deductions of gifts of cash to qualified charities.
If you would like to send Jesuit your check before the end of the year, make it payable to Jesuit High School with the notation that it is for our Hurricane Restoration Project. Please mail it to our school’s address at 4133 Banks St.; New Orleans, LA 70119.
I fully realize that some of you have lost everything and that this request for a donation is ill timed. If you are offended, please accept my apology knowing the Jesuits pray that each day your resolve, determination, dreams, and patience grow stronger and overwhelm all your frustration, anger, pain, and sorrow.
These are incredible, unprecedented, and exhausting times for all of us. Keep up your spirits and your courage. As always, I thank you for your generosity towards Jesuit High School.
On behalf of all of us at Jesuit, I wish you and your family a joyous and peaceful Christmas, along with a happy, prosperous, and less stressful New Year.
Sincerely,
Anthony McGinn, S.J. ’66
President
Jesuit High School
P.S. I encourage you to visit Jesuit’s website, JesuitNOLA.org , to keep up with the progress of our rebuilding effort. You will also find that it is easy to donate online, whether it is for our Hurricane Restoration Project, LEF, or PAG drives.
Jesuit's Hurricane Restoration Project
